No. 4 Oregon speeds past No. 5 Kansas State 35-17

Rumors that Ducks coach Kelly headed to NFL

GLENDALE, Ariz. — De'Anthony Thomas took the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and Marcus Mariota accounted for three touchdowns Thursday to lead No. 4 Oregon to a 35-17 victory over No. 5 Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Mariota threw touchdown passes of 23 yards to halfback Thomas and 24 yards to halfback Kenjon Barner and also scored on a 2-yard run as the Ducks (12-1) reached 12 victories for the third time in four seasons in what could be Oregon coach Chip Kelly's last game.

Kelly reportedly will interview with the Buffalo Bills about their coaching vacancy Friday, and he also has been linked to open NFL jobs in Cleveland and Philadelphia. Oregon is 46-7 in Kelly's four seasons as coach.

Mariota, a redshirt freshman, completed 12 of 24 passes for 166 yards and had 62 yards rushing. Mariota finished the season with a 68.4 completion percentage, just short of Sam Bradford's NCAA freshman record of 69.5 percent set at Oklahoma in 2006.

Barner, a senior, rushed for 140 yards on 30 carries in his final game.

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, scored on a 6-yard run and completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Hubert. Klein completed 17 of 32 passes for 150 yards and two interceptions. He had 30 yards rushing, and John Hubert had 55.

Oregon led 15-10 before scoring 17 straight points to take control, a run that included an unusual one-point safety. The Ducks were awarded a point when a Kansas State player carried the ball into the end zone attempting to advance it after the Wildcats blocked the PAT kick following Mariota's run with 8:03 remaining in the third quarter.